Dish-washing machine



G. H. MYRICK.

DISH WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION r|LED1uNE18.1917.

1,335,853;w Patented Apr. 6, 1920..

15"' BY @a6 A TTORNEY WI TNESS l l GEORGE H. MYRICK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DISH-WASHING MACHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. c, 1920.

Application filed June 18, 1917. Serial No. 175,286.

T0 all lwhom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE I-I. MYRICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Dish-Washing Machines, of which the following is a speclfication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to an improved construction of dish washing machine in which I project hot water upon the dishes to be washed without the aid of pumps or moving parts of any kind. By my invention I provide a steam generating compartment from which the steam is projected at high velocity into vertical columnar columns of water in the washing compartment as a result of which the water is projected vertically against deiecting devices, which directthe water downwardly against the dishes to be washed. The water in the steam generating compartment may be heated lin any desired manner and in cases where steam under pressure is available the steam generating compartment may be dispensed with and the steam projecting device may be connected directly with the steam heat, as a result of which my invention broadly contemplates any construction by which steam under pressure may be directed into the water contained in the washing compartment so that the water in the said compartment is circulated by the steam through the dishes to be washed. v

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof 1n which;

Figure 1 is-a vertical longitudinal central section through the preferred embodiment of my device,

Fig. 2 shows in a fragmental view similar to Fig. 1 a different means of heating the water in the steam generating compartment from the means provided in Fig. 1, v

Fig. 3 shows in afragmental view similar to Fig. 1 the construction of my machine where steam is used directly from a steam main, and l Fig. 4 shows a modified form of deflecting mechanism.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Fig. 1 the device consists of a washing compartment 10, which may be tom and side walls, the bottom 11 of the washing compartment serving as the top of the steam generating compartment. As shown in the drawings the steam generating compartment and the bottom of the washing compartment are indicated as made of cast metal and the side walls and cover of the washing compartment as made of sheet metal although I do not limit myself to constructing the device in this manner. The central portion 118L of the bottom of the washing compartment is made removable as indicated to facilitate cleaning the steam generating compartment 14 and as it is desirable to prevent communication between the two compartments'except as hereinafter specified a gasket 15 is inserted between the removable portion and the stationary portion of the bottom 11, the removable portion being held in place by any suitable clamping device, as for example the buttons 16.

The removable portion 11a of the bottom is secured thereto by spiders 17 vertical tubes 18 open at the top and bottom so that water contained in the washing compartment 10 may freely enter the bottom of the tubes through the spiders 17 and be projected from the top of the tubes againstv deflectors 19 carried by the cover 13 and directed by the deflectors downwardly upon the dishes held in place in the washing compartment by wire baskets 20 and 21. In the removable portion 11a of the bottom nozzles 22 are placed projecting upwardly to direct steam from the compartment 14 into the lower ends of the tubes 18. The nozzles are preferably located substantially-in the axes of the tubes and extend somewhat above the lower'ends of the tubes although I do not limit myself to any particular location of the nozzles or proportions of the nozzles and tubes as I may employ any arrangement of nozzles and tubes that will secure the intended result' of projecting the steam into the lower ends of the tubes.

The steam generating compartment 14 is lll otally supported at 2G by the removable portion 11 of the bottom of thc'washlng compartment. The valve 2 4 provides that there shall always be a. supply of water 1n the steam generating compartment as long :is there is water in the washing compartment, and the float provides a ready means for n'iaintaining the water in the steam generating compartment at a desired level.

vhile the necessary amount of Watenfor washing the vvdishes may be introduced lnt'o the compartment 10 in any manner I nd 1t convenient to supply a water supply tank 27 connected by a pipe 28 through a control valve 29 with the washingeompartment 10 and this tank may also be connected by a second pipe 30 with the lower portion of the compartlnent 14 so that by providing the tank with a tight cover 31 which is closed after filling the tank the tank will serve as a safety device for preventing the compartment 14 from running dry since When the level of the water in the compartment 14 becomes lower than the outlet of the pipe 30 V water will flow from the tank 27 through the pipe 30 until the end of the pipe is sealed by the water in the compartment 14. The water in the compartment 14 may be heated in any desired manner, the means employed for doing this in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 1 being diagrammatically indicated as a gas burner 32, while in 'the construction shown in Fig. 2 which is similar in other respects to that shown in lFig. f1 the heating means is indicated dia- M grammatically as' an electric heating unit 33.

In cases where steam under pressure is available in a steam main the steam generatin compartment may be dispensed with as inc icated in Fig. 3 and the nozzles 228L may be connected by a pipe 34 through a controlling valve 35 directly with the steam main` it being understood that the rest of the device is of the same construction as that shown in Fig. 1. In' o erating my device the water to be used or Washing the dishes is placed in compartment 10 mixed with the soap or other cleaning agent which it is desired to employ, the level of the Water being preferably just below the pipe 28. The dishes are then stacked in the usual manner in the wire trays 20 and 21 and placed in the Washing compartment and the cover 13 is put in place to inclose said compartment. The water in the compartment 14 is at the level determined by the controlling device referred to above or possibly at a higher level through some of it flowing into the lower compartment through the no zzles. The application of heat to the lower compartment produces steam which is4 rojected through the nozzles 22 either wit or without the water depending upon the level of the water in the lower compartment and after the steam has been generated for a brief interval steam is ldelivered at high Velocity from the nozzles 22 into the lower ends of the tubes 18 which are sealed at this time by the water in the washing compartment. The effect of the steam delivered at high velocity into the ypipes 18 is to carry the Water contained therein upwardly in the tubes to project it forcibly against the deflectors 11 by which it\ is directed downwardly in all directions upon the dishes to be washed. This operation is continued until the dishes have been cleaned and it will be noted that the continuous circulation of the water in the compartment is effected. A screen 36 is preferably disposed across the 'lower portion of the washing compartment below the tray 21 to prevent dirt and refuse from finding its way into the lower portion of the compartment 10 and thus in due course into the compartment 14 since said dirt and refuse would tend to interfere with the proper operation of the, nozzles 22 and the valve 24.

After the dishes are Washed the water in the compartment 10 may be drained oli' through the drain cock 37 and the dishes may be rinsed either by projecting steam from the nozzles 22 into the compartment 10 or introducing" fresh water into the compartment 10 from the tank 27 through the valve 29 before beginning the rinsing operation. After the rinsing operation the dishes may be removed from the device by means of the trays containing them and will dry as a result of their highly heated condition.

The drain cock 38 is provided for removing the water from the compartment 14 in cleaning the device and since the screen 36 is readily removable and the portion 11 of the compartment 10 is also'readily removable access may be had to all parts of the device to thoroughly clean the same. If but a small quantity of water is desired in the compartment 14 the valve 24 and its controlling mechanism may be dispensed with and the pipe 30 alone relied upon tol maintain a supply of water in the steaming compartment.

The effect of connecting the tank 27 through the pipe 30 as described, to the steam generating compartment is to heat the Water in the tank, due to its circulation as the water in the compartment is heated, and thus a supply of hot water is available for rinsing the dishes after they have been washed. Furthermore, the water in the Washing compartment is heated and maintained in heated condition by the steam projected into it.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the

deflector 19a is rotatably supported on a ver-I tical rod 39 from the cover 13 andthis de- Y Hector is provided with a plurality of curved inclosing said compartment, a nozzle projected from the tube 18 strikes them', the defiector is rapidly rotated. This results in spraying the water outwardly and slightly in an upward direction, which I take advantage of to thoroughly wash articles such as cups or bowls. These articles may be supported in partially inverted position by a wire basket or tray 41 in the upper part of the washing compartment as indicated at 42 and since the direction of the sprayed water is inclined upwardly, it strikes against the upper portion of the inner surface of the cups, bowls, etc., and washes across said inner surface and drains from the lower edges of said articles thus eiectively cleaning them. l

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiments above described I do not, however, limit myself to these exact constructions as I may employ equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of this application without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

'What I claim is:

l. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a first compartment having imper- :torate bottom and side walls and a top wall projecting upward from said top wall with its lower end in communication with the upper portion of said compartment, a vertical straight tube open at both ends, an open support for the lower end of said tube for holding said tube above said top wall inline with said nozzle, side walls extending upward from said top wall to form a second compartment, said top wall forming the bottom wall of said second compartment and preventing communication between said compartments excepting throu h said nozzle, and means for heating sai rst compartment.

2. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a first compartment having imperforate bottom and side walls `and a top wall inclosing said compartment, a nozzle projecting upward from said top wall with its lower end in communication with the upper portion of saiid compartment, a vertical straight tube open at both ends, an open support for the lower end of said tube for holding said tube above said top wall 1n line with said nozzle, side walls extending upward 'from said top wall to form a second compartment, said top wall forming the bottom wall of said second compartment and preventing communication between said compartments excepting through sald nozzle, and means for heating sa1d first compartment, said top wall havinga separable joint around vits edge portion wlth said s1de walls, packing material in said joint, and

devices for holding said top wall in placeagainst said packing material. 3. In a dish washing machme, the comblsupport for the lower end of said tube for holding said tube above said top wall in line with said nozzle, side walls extending upward from said top wall to form a second compartment, said top wall forming the bottom wall of said second compartment and preventing communication between said compartments excepting through said nozzle, means for heating said first compartment, a valve in said top wall opening into said first compartment, a float in said first compartment, and operating devices carried Iby said top wall connecting said iioat and valve. v

' 4. In a dish washing machine, the combination of a first compartment having imperforate bottomand side walls and a top wall inclosing said compartment, a nozzle projecting upward from said top wall with its lower end in communication with the upper portion of said compartment, a vertical straight tube open at both ends, an open support for the lower end of said tube for holding said tube above said top wall in line with said nozzle, side walls extending upward from said top wall to form a second compartment, said top wall forming the bottom wall of said second compartment and preventing communication between said compartments excepting through said nozzle, means for heating said first compartment, said top wall having a separable joint around its edge portion with said side walls, packing material in said joint, devices for holding said top wall in place against said packing material, a valve in said top wall opening into said first compartment, a ioat in said first compartment, and operating devices carried by said top wall connecting said float and valve.

5. In a dish washing machine,'the combination of a rst compartment having imperforate bottom and side walls and a top wall inclosing said compartment, a nozzle projecting u ward from said top wall with its lower en in communication with the upper portion of said compartment, a vertical straight tube open at both ends, an open support for the lower end of said tube for holding said tube above said top wall in line with said nozzle, side walls extending upward from said top wall to form a second compartment, said top wall forming the bot tom wall of said second compartment and preventing communication between said compartments excepting through said nozzle, means for heating said first vcompartment, a cover for said second compartment,

and a deector carried b said cover above the u per end of said tu 6. fn a dish washing machine, the combination of a first compartment having imperforate bottom and side walls and a top wall inclosing said compartment, a nozzle projecting upward from said top wall with its lower end in communication with the upper portion of said compartment, a vertical straight tube open at both ends, an open support for "the lower end of said tube for holding said tube above said top wall in line with said nozzle, side walls extending upward from said top wall to form a second compartment, said top wall forming the botpacking materia in said joint, devices for holding said top Wall in place against said packing material, a cover for said second compartment, and a deector carried by said cover above the upper end of said tube.

In wit-ness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of June, A. D. 1917.

GEORGE H. MYRICK. 

